In celebration of my book, The Healing Gift of Gratitude: live a happier, more peaceful life with a unique practice of gratitude, I wanted to give you a few of my favorite sections.
First I have to explain that it’s divided into three themes: Acknowledging Self, Appreciating Others, and Experiencing the World. I designed the book this way so you can focus on acknowledging all the good (and reasons to be grateful) about yourself first. It’s so easy to overlook this and fall into a feeling of not being good enough or not having a good enough life.
Then you move into thinking about others. I believe there are many other people, outside the typical few, who we can be grateful for. Of course it’s natural and easy to appreciate your loved ones and close friends, but how about your co-workers, your kids’ bus driver, or the kid who packs your grocery bags? Once we start expressing, or even thinking about, more gratitude to more people, our whole experience changes.
Finally, it’s the world, which, let’s be honest, can feel pretty depressing or scary. In the third section, I push you to see some things about the world and your experience of it, differently. I believe there’s a ton of good in our world – in nature, in our collective community, and in the power of people doing good.
Below you can read a section from each of these themes. After you read the section, grab a notebook, journal, or any piece of paper and write about the idea for seven days. Each section, by the way, has a challenge – something to push you a bit more – be sure to consider it.
I hope you enjoy each section, and I hope along with deeper gratitude, it provides you with some peace, hope, and overall feeling happiness.
To buy the whole book go here
Acknowledging Self
Gratitude Focus: Things That Make You Laugh and Smile
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” ~ Charlie Chaplin
“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” ~ Phyllis Diller
Leave it to two well-known comedians to identify two wonderful truths. Laughter and smiling… simple ways to lift any situation. Do you ever have a day when you don’t laugh? A day when a smile never shows up on your beautiful face?
It is a day wasted when we don’t find something to enjoy. There are days when we have to do just that: find a reason. There are days that are extraordinarily difficult – when a natural laugh or even a slight curve of a smile on your lips might feel impossible. Those are the days to search for that simple joy.
What or who in your life always brings a smile to your face? Is it a particular photograph of a loved one? Or maybe a quick phone call with a child or dear friend? It might be that a quick walk through the forest always makes you smile. Perhaps it’s an adored pet who always makes you laugh. Maybe it only takes a particular television show or a simple treat like extra whipped cream on your latte to lift your spirits.
When you need to have a slight shift in your energy or outlook, when you crave a little lift to your mood – who or what can you turn to? This week consider people, things, or experiences that you can be grateful for because they bring you a hearty laugh or they put a smile on your face no matter what’s happening in your life.
Gratitude Challenge:
Be sure to recognize something you can do at any time and in any place that will bring you simple joy. It might be an image in your mind, a prayer or poem you recite quietly to yourself. Capturing a dependable source of joy to have at your beck and call is a gift!
Appreciating Others
Gratitude Focus: Teachers from Your Life
“I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we’re all teachers – if we’re willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door.”
~Maria Gibbs
From the moment you were born, you’ve had teachers in your life. The caregivers who gently held your newly born body were teaching tenderness and love. You always have teachers and influencers around you, coming and going throughout your life. They serve great purpose, and provide you wonderful gifts. You also serve as a teacher in others’ lives.
You likely learned mathematics, reading and writing, science and humanities from a traditional teacher in a classroom. But who taught you about love? Kindness? Perseverance? Who taught you to see the beauty in nature and within humankind? Was there a special person who taught you to believe in yourself and your purpose in this world?
Some of life’s teachers surprise us. They come in unexpected ways – even in people who annoy or upset us. Their visit to your life might feel frustrating, but it’s very intentional and purposeful. It’s likely you’ve had teachers who, through tough life experiences, taught you forgiveness, acceptance, or patience. Although these teachers might have felt unwelcome to your life, they are priceless in teaching the most important, yet difficult, lessons.
This week recall seven important teachers from your life – from the classroom in school to the classroom of life. Who are those people who taught you important lessons, who have left their soulful fingerprint on your heart, who have perhaps challenged you to dig deep within yourself to learn the most difficult lessons? Write one name down each day, and express why you’re grateful for the lesson they helped you learn.
Gratitude Challenge:
This week, be sure to include one of the surprising teachers in your life who perhaps provided you lessons in ways you’d not have expected or wanted. Express gratitude for someone who, although frustrated you, taught you something valuable about life.
Experiencing the World
Gratitude Focus: Things Taken for Granted
“Habit converts luxurious enjoyments into dull and daily necessities.”
~ Aldous Huxley
Everyone gets into ruts sometimes. You might rush from one event to another and then another, and before you know it, the sun has set on another day. A part of your routine, which might be considered a luxury to many, can be overlooked and unappreciated. Begin to feel gratitude for all the simple pleasures in your life.
Living in a country such as the United States, most people are blessed more than they realize. There are comforts and perks galore. Here are some statistics to that might surprise you:
In 2013-14:
780 million people lacked access to clean water (that’s more than 2.5 times the United States population)
Almost half the world lived on less than $2.50 each day
Nearly one billion people, in 2000, were unable to read a book or sign their own name
One in three children throughout the world lacked adequate shelter
A quarter of humanity lived without electricity
*globalissues.org
*water.org
This week, look around you, pay attention to how easily your tasks are accomplished, how swiftly your basic needs are met. Then, at the end of each day, record one luxury, perhaps not normally viewed as a luxury, you have in your life and why you’re grateful for it.
Perhaps you realize how wonderful it is to get from one place to another so easily, using your own car, public transport, or a bicycle. The fact that you can walk into your kitchen and find healthy food at any time is a pure blessing! The comforts of your home, clean and safe water to drink and to bathe, a comfortable bed, carpeted floors… are all much more than many people have, and undeniably, much more than anyone needs to live a full and happy life.
This week express gratitude for seven things that bless your life beyond necessity. Be creative – look for those things that seem to pass you by unnoticed but that you surely enjoy!
Gratitude Challenge:
Make a donation this week to an agency that works to provide basic needs – food, water, shelter, education – to those less fortunate than yourself.
May you find a ton of reasons to feel joy and gratitude – today and all the days to come,
xo,
Shannon
P.S. I love to hear your thoughts, feel free to share them below in a comment!
P.P.S. Next week I’m going to explain eight ways you are more FREE than you might think! You’re going to love this tips!